Course reversal seen as ‘a sign to the industry’ of commitment to serve the market in a ‘diverse and vibrant’ way

Reversing course after eliminating its imprints six years, Thomas Nelson will be releasing nonfiction under two imprints. In a move announced recently during the HarperCollins Christian Publishing spring sales conference, Nelson will publish adult nonfiction titles under Nelson Books and W Publishing Group starting in the fall. 

Under the One Company corporate initiative in 2007, the Nashville-based publisher removed more than 20 imprints from its branding structure. 

“At that time, the company realized a value and strength in promoting one company brand,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “Over the past six years, our publishing teams have worked hard to distinguish Thomas Nelson in the industry. However, we have also realized the importance of having distinct imprint identities for our large and growing nonfiction groups. 

“The decision to restore the Nelson Books and W Publishing imprints is a sign to the industry, authors and readers that we are more committed than ever to serving the market with a diverse and vibrant family of nonfiction publishing teams,” Schoenwald added.

Restoring the imprints will allow parent company HarperCollins Christian Publishing to “facilitate growth, offering three distinct nonfiction brands”—Nelson Books, W Publishing Group and sister company Zondervan, company officials said. 

“We are honored to continue the great publishing legacy that W Publishing and Nelson Books represent,” said David Moberg, Thomas Nelson’s senior vice president and group publisher. “They will be the cornerstones of our future growth in the nonfiction trade area.” 

Nelson Books will focus on publishing titles in the areas of spiritual growth, inspiration and practical living, with memoir, biography, history and culture releases each year. 

“I began my career in publishing in 1991 as part of the Nelson Books team, and I am delighted that my team has the opportunity to continue the rich legacy of that great imprint,” said Brian Hampton, senior vice president and publisher of Nelson Books. “We are eager to pursue our mission of publishing content that informs, inspires and creates change that matters—in this life and the next.” 

Under Hampton’s leadership, Nelson has published 40 New York Times best-sellers in the past eight years, including the 2011 ECPA Book of the Year, Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. 

W Publishing will concentrate on women’s spiritual growth, practical living and memoirs. Under the leadership of Matt Baugher, senior vice president and publisher who will lead W Publishing, Thomas Nelson has published one of the fastest-selling Christian titles in history with Todd Burpo’s Heaven Is for Real, which has sold more than 8 million copies in the past two years.

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